Spacer member



March 1958 B. L. BRITT ETAL 2,825,449

SPACER MEMBER Filed Jan. 28, 1955 5 hrm-wrmes Em yn r1. in

M40251) 6- Para-2 3, MMJ/M/MZQ United States Patent SPACER MEMBER Bryant L. Britt and Wilfred C. Potter, St. Johns, Mo., assignors to Wagner Electric Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application January 28, 1955, Serial No. 484,655

7 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) This invention relates generally to mounting articles in a container and is particularly directed to a novel spacer member for resiliently positioning delicate or easily damaged articles in fixed spaced relation with the walls and bottom of a container.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide spacer members particularly adapted for positioning articles, such as transformer elements, in centered spaced relation with the walls and bottom of a container.

Another object is to provide spacer members which will prevent vertical and lateral movement of the articles positioned in a container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide spacer members which will not deform or destroy the container walls and which are adaptable for use in containers of different sizes and shapes.

Another object is to provide spacer members for positioning delicate articles in a container so that shock or vibration on the container will not damage the articles.

Another object is to provide a novel shipping package wherein articles, such as transformer elements, may be removably positioned in spaced relation to the walls of a container by resilient spacer members, and the container filled with a fluid that will act as a preservative during shipping and may be used as a cooling medium during subsequent operation of the article.

Another object of the present invention is to provide simple, economic spacing means for mounting transformer parts or other articles in a container whereby the necessity for rigid securing means will be obviated.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

The invention is embodied in a resilient spacer member having an upper lip engageable with an article or article casing and a lower vertical abutment flange adapted for abutment against the casing with arcuate means interconnecting the lip and flange and extending outwardly for engagement with the walls of a container.

The invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and wherein like numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the spacer members assembled on the casing and mounted in a container,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective View partly broken away showing a spacer member adapted for use with a smaller casmg.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been shown is applied to a plate assembly or casing especially adapted for enclosing and supporting a replacement transice former core and coil assembly (not shown), although the invention may be used with any type of article as will become apparent hereinafter.

The casing 10 for supporting the article comprises an upper plate 11 having opposite ends 12 and down-turned side flanges 13, and a lower plate 14 having opposite ends 15 and up-turned side flanges 16. The upper and lower plates 11 and 14 are connected together in fixed spaced relationship by supporting members or legs 17 to provide an opening or space in which an article may be secured. Each of the legs 17 may be formed from an angle bar to provide a surface abutment 18 and an edge abutment 18' adjacent to the ends 12 and 15 of the plates 11 and 14 respectively, the legs 17 being positioned in pairs so that the surface abutments 18 define the ends of the casing 10. Each of the legs 17 has a lower end 19 secured to the side flanges 16 of the lower plate 14 as at 20 in any suitable manner, and an upper end 21 secured to the side flanges 13 of the upper plate 11, as at 22. The upper end 21 of each of the legs 17 has an upper margin or edge 23 spaced vertically from the end 12 of the upper plate 11 to provide an opening or slot24 which is defined horiz'ontally by inside surfaces 25 on the side flanges 13 of the upper plate 11. The casing 10 is also provided with lifting tabs or flanges 26 secured to the upper plate 11 and having openings 27 therein for engagement by conventional lifting means (not shown) for inserting or remeans which comprises resilient spacer members 31, one

which is assembled on each end of the casing 10 to provide the mounting assembly for positioning the article in the container 28. Inasmuch as each of the spacer members 31 is alike only one need be described in detail.

The spacer member 31 comprises an upper portion, a mid-portion and a lower portion, the upper portion including an upper lip or tab 32 having a free inner edge 33 and side margins or edges 34. The lip 32 is substantially horizontally positioned, but may slope slightly upwardly to its inner edge 33 so that the casing 10 will be in positive frictional engagement therewith, as will be outer edge of the lip 32 is formed into a vertically extending abutment 37 adapted to bear against the surface abutment 18 of the legs 17 when the spacer member 31 is assembled on the casing 10. The mid-portion of the spacer member 31 is formed integral with the abutment 37 and comprises a pair of elongated arcuate ribs 38, which are spaced to define an elongated central opening 39, the ribs 38 curving outwardly for engagement with the walls 29 of the container 28. The lower portion of the spacer member 31 is formed integral with the midportion and comprises an abutment flange or supporting lip 40 positioned substantially in the same vertical plane as the abutment 37 and having a lower end 41. A series of vertical cuts 42 may be formed in the spacer member 31 a predetermined distance from each side margin 43 of the spacer member 31 to define outer projections 44 and inner projections 45 having outer side edges 46 adapted to bear against the edge abutment 18'of the legs 17 when assembled on the casing 10. 'The projections 44 and 45 are formed at the juncture of the midportion and the lower portion and extend inwardly therefrom so that they protrude beyond the abutment flange 40, which is adapted for engagement on the surface abutments 18 adjacent to the lower end 19 of the legs 17.

When the resilient spacer members 31 are to be assembled on the casing 10 for insertion in the container 28, the horizontal lip 32' of one spacer member 31 is positioned in theihorizontalslotz t at one 7' v ing 10 soitliat the side' margih's 3 16f the lip STarB 2st of the cohtainei and 'sh k 'or 'vibratio end of the easadjacent to the inside surfaces'25. of the oppos'edside flanges 113 thereby positioning the lip 32 between the'end '12fofthe upper plate l'lisalidf the upper margins 23' oft the legs 17 witli the inner "edge33 er-theme 3'2Yabutting,

' the upper. plate 11. Another. spacer member" 31 its horizontal B15 32 similarly. positioned :in the 5101.11] at the. other endof "the casing 1 .I Wlicmso positioned; the a r -abfitment 37 ofreach of the spacer members Slisengaged on the. surface abutments 18; at the QPPer ends 1 21" of the v 7 legs, ,17 at oneend Zoffl the casing; 10, and t the gabutment fla'ngeisjAtl ofr each of tliQgSPlfiCl?" membrs ilh is engaged: on thef lower'ends19 of thesurfaceaabutmentselfit movement; irths-Slower. ei'id of: the casing lll relative to the spacer. memberr31' will 3be p'reyented when the'mountapparent that when the' resilient spacer members; 31 are assembled on-the casing 10, the ribs 38 are bowed out? wardly relative thereto and the mounting assembly is now' cbnditionjedfor insertion into the container-28t bers 31 ,w hich normally curve outwardly a greater length than thegfdistance-betweenthe' innerv lwalls 290f! the' container 28;;are deformed to assume the shape of'the walls 29 and to: conform tothe distance' therebetween so that" complementary. bearing surfaces are formed bet-weem thejinnerw'alls 29:,and'the 'ribs'38; -Althdugh lthe area 'ofthe? ribs 38- is: small enough; to 'be'easily deformed for bearing-,xengagemerit againstthewalls- 29' of theacon taine1% -28," it is to be understood that the rib-area is} suflicient 1 tozprfevent the rupture or. deformationaof I the shape; of the*con'tainer walls '29; iWhlhT might present I problems-insubsequently sealing the container- 28; t

-'As--s hown:in:Fig.;2-,' when the mounting assembly. is

inserted into the container 28: a wedging actiontresults;

which causes the. ribs '38: to-flatten out sotthat the spacer members 31' become elongated; and the lower: edgexfl; oft-each of the abutment rflanges 40wisrmoved downwardly beyond the lower plate: 14.- 7 It israppar'ent that:theiwedgv ing action between: the: ribs 38 and the: walls 29 .of the 'of the container jwaeaew i V the abutment flange 40 'extendsbelow the'casing 7710,;the': f lower eager 4'f'wilfbepositidnedagfinst'f the' bottomfifl V 28 therebyspacing the article casing; 'lotherefrom. g a 1 The spacer members 31- are: adapted'for usetwith dif-' ferent sizes of article casings and may be usedtw'ith a different sizes of containerss iwhen'it is desired to fas h semble'the spacer members '31 on a sinaller size casing 10, the outer tabs3-6, iar remo ed or turned upwardly so' th atithe cutsifiiidefine-thsid margins ofithe" H 232}; as-shown in-Figl lb-The distahce lietween thecuts 35-- or the width of the lip'is predtermined for enga'ge--, ment; in the horizontal s lo t; 24; qt the; smaller casing. 1 it Similarly, by remoyingtordepressing the outer projections 44, the inner projections? 45- willengage the edge abut ments 18' of the smaller casing. It isappa'rent'that any' a numberof paired projections 44- and tabs 36'mays be ing assembly is posit'ioned in the container', 286 Itais'now r vidssk iaqe t s sa pe amembs fl-' d q J '7 th fi t nt iz p e if F rl t efls e veax-t ne ofiarticlemaybe rnounted in a-c ontainer2 8rby 'thespacer. j

members; 3111if coactingfsu'rface and-edgelabutments andf V a lip-receiving slot are provided therefon.

This invention: is :inte nded to' cover all changes and. V?

W modifications of the: example of: the invention-herein.

Upon the ginsertion; of-fthe mountingiassembly in the container Z'S; the, re'sili'e'nt-Jibs 38a ofjthe spacer; rnemo; A spacer memberfi ornu o sae 'ih sl v which d not 5 2 a a stitute departures from the spirit-and scope oftheinve ttionQ l "7' Whatwe-claimis; a V i ment flange and extending 'substantially normal therefrom;

container-causes the abntmentflang'el 40 tolslidet'dqwns; 7

" WardIy/ZOn-the 'surlface abutments 181 andtthe projections" f p 44710; sliderdownwardly;on: the: edge abutments l sf: of i the shapev of the container walls 29;'no.. more relative vertical -movement will; take place between :the Zcasing: 10

the container 28 n0 relative horizontal movement can takepl ace Til p T'L'JIQI s As seen hereinb efctre;v laterala-move'menttofi thezzar'ticle casing 10' at 7 its .lower ,end iis prevente'd byk the engagement oi the side edges I46; ofhthef projections 44 uni-the; :e'dge abutments ls oh the easing legs 1,7; Lateral movement at the upper endof thefca'singflo is preventedt by the engagement of the 'zside edges 34 of r the lipz SZzmTl the insidersurfaces 25 of the'sideTfianges;- 13;: Ini'iaddition";

1 edgclthereof,; spaced'resilient jIibS= connected ztoisaid i verticalf abutment andfhav-ing; outer side :edges center-g V 5 minouswith the side edges of said:vertical.;abntment;;1an,

said-v p j t on hav g u er;m rgin p d apa t-e i said 'spac'eti member, aapairl:ofricuts:iformed iintsaid tab vforming fouterxauxiliaryv tabs andita centralpjtabs having g a predetermined width; a vertical abntment -formedainte- 7 gr alwith thezouter: edge; ofzsaid'thorizontallyrextending tab and rhavingjside? edges: conterminous :with-itheifsid'e' abutment flangegconnected to said :resilient 'ribsi positioned V inthe same verticaL-lplahekas said vertical: abutment 1 and ha'ving side edges conterminous' with 'the'zsidef e'dge's' t of'said ribs,;said -jlowe1i=:end of said spacer member; .dej-Q' fining the loweriedge -ofzsaid abutment flange,anda.series Q of cuts defining paired fspaced projections formed 'isub 5 T l stantiallyat the,junctureoflsaidresili'entaribstandrabutment flange, eaclr z ofs saideprojections having ian outer tronr arsidel edgeofl saidaabutment liangea j 'predetermineddistance I 1.1. f l 3. A mounting assembly comprisinganxarticle casing the weight of the'article'suencased andthe frictionatiien tgagement of the resilient, ribs. 38iagainst the' coiitainer.

walls-29 willupreventtianyt, vertical movement betweeh V the mounting. assembly and rth e'xcontainer 28. 1

1 When thezmountingii as'semblyhas' been the" container 28, the afticle -cafsin'g 10' wi cally-"centered in spacecr'relationship thereto will be absorb'ed -by'tlieiresilient q I spacerimernbers 'il p Inasnniclt as rhe. lo'weiedge tltbf p'o 'oned in edgegspaced:

having an upper plate,: al'--loweri plate" spacedfrotflc said upper plate by a plurality of legs having -abutmentisuri'; 3 faces formedthereon, the uppe1 end of-'- said -'"legs being j II spaced:fromi said upper plate todefine a -horizontal{ slot at each end of said casing, and a resilient spacer member remevablygpositioned on? eaelr end oii s'aild' 'casing said spacer. me iepha'vingmappernanmmarfiepegt oned' ;i1r"s'aid;' horizontal "slot; a=yertial abutment formed" on "one end ofsaiditab and iengaged on said' iabtitmentusur r i ih t p ja dz sfw c n s-T saidupper end defining the inner'edge of a horiiontallyi e nd n eb klded ras d-Zane":emet

t termineddistance a pair -0f fcuts vformedinwardly of a 1dsem 2 m.we; u i ia ta s a d a ce al 7 tab Having a' e et rm nedsw tbza ve qa labutmen formed integral with the outer edge ofsaid tab, spaced arcuate resilient ribs curving; outwardly and downwardly frq .s t a -a 1 tm n nab tm nt n fb m i r V integral" with said ribsand positioned'in' the same; vertical a pl & a i bl ne ig e we nd: of s pa member defining the; lower edge'of said abutmentflange, V

and-apair of;spacedprejections formedfromlsaid abut:

faces of said legs adjacent to the upper ends thereof, spaced ribs formed on said abutment and downwardly curving therefrom, an abutment flange formed on said. spaced ribs and positioned in abutting relationship with the portion of said abutment surface of said legs adjacen to the lower ends thereof, spaced projections formed on said abutment flange and inwardly extending relative thereto for engaging the vertical margins of said legs adjacent to said abutment surfaces thereon, said spaced ribs being adapted for frictional engagement with the walls of a container when said mounting assembly is positioned therein.

4. A mounting assembly comprising an article casing having an upper plate, a lower plate spaced from said upper plate by a plurality of vertical legs having surface abutments defining the ends of said casing, the upper end of said legs being spaced from said upper plate to define horizontal slots at the ends of said casing, and a resilient spacer member removably positioned on each of the ends of said casing, said spacer member having an upper horizontal tab positioned in said horizontal slot, a vertical abutment formed on said horizontal tab and engaged on said surface abutments of said legs at the upper ends thereof, spaced ribs formed on said abutment and downwardly curving therefrom, an abutment flange formed on said spaced ribs and positioned in abut ting relationship with the portion of said surface abutments of said legs adjacent to the lower ends thereof, and a plurality of projections formed on said abutment flange and inwardly extending relative thereto for en gaging vertical margins of said legs adjacent to said surface abutments thereon.

5. In a container having side walls and a bottom for enclosing transformer elements, a casing for supporting the elements including upper and lower plates interconnected by end-defining supporting members having end surfaces and opposed margins, and centering and retaining means comprising a pair of spacer members assembled on opposite ends of said casing, each of said spacer members having resilient ribs frictionally engaging the side walls of said container and spacing said casing therefrom, a lower abutment connected to said ribs and positioned on the bottom of said container to space the lower plate of said casing therefrom, said lower abutment having a portion in frictional contact with sait casing end surfaces and spaced projections positioned be tween said opposed margins, and a supporting tab connected to said ribs and engageable with the upper plate of said casing.

6. A spacer member for mounting an article casing in spaced relation with the walls and bottom of a container, said spacer member comprising upper, intern ediate and lower portions, said upper portion including a horizontally-extending flange having a pair of lateraily spaced cuts forming a central tab of predetermined Width and side tabs which with the central tab have a predetermined overall width, and an upper vertical abutent extending downwardly from said horizontal flange; said intermediate portion including a resilient arcuate rib extending outwardly and downwardly from said upper abutment, said rib having an outer surface adapted to frictionally contact a container wall; said lower portion including a lower vertical abutment connected to the lower end of said rib and positioned in substantially the same vertical plane as said upper abutment, a first pair of projections extending horizontally from said lower vertical abutment and having outer side margins spaced apart a predetermined distance, and a second pair of laterally spaced projections extending horizontally from said lower vertical abutment and having outer side margins spaced apart a predetermined distance, said second pair of projections being positioned between said first pair of projections.

7. In a transformer element shipping construction including a container having side walls and a bottom, a casing for supporting transformer elements, said casing comprising an upper and lower plate positioned in fixed vertically spaced relation by end pairs of supporting members having end surfaces and opposed margins, the upper ends of said end surfaces being spaced below said upper plate; and centering and retaining means for mounting said casing in spaced relation with the side walls and bottom of said container, said centering and retaining means comprising a pair of spacer members positioned on the end pairs of supporting members of said casing, each of said spacer members having a resilient rib extending outwardly from said casing in frictional contact with said container, upper and lower abutments formed integral with said rib and in frictional surface contact with the end surfaces of said supporting members of said casing, said lower abutment extending below said lower plate of said casing and having a free edge positioned on the bottom of said casing, a supporting lip formed integral with said upper abutment and extending under the upper plate of said casing through the space between the upper ends of said supporting member end surfaces and said upper plate, and a pair of projections extending from said lower abutment and having outer side margins spaced apart a predetermined distance, said side margins being received between said opposed margins of said supporting members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 449,326 Kennedy Mar. 31, 1891 587,699 Burson Aug. 10, 1897 1,119,805 Butts Dec. 8, 1914 1,448,338 Drew Mar. 13, 1923 1,628,146 Hoops May 10, 1927 2,591,769 Beechler Apr. 8, 1952 

